Industry sources note that during this seven-month period ended October, phone exports grew the fastest at around 60% owing to a surge in output from Apple and Samsung. Tamil Nadu has gained the most from the electronics wave with the presence of a strong electronics manufacturing sector comprising Foxconn, Pegatron, Flex, among others . At 30%, Tamil Nadu accounted for the largest share of India’s electronics exports during the seven-month period, followed by UP (16% share), and Karnataka (14% share).
Apple exports iPhones from its contract manufacturing facilities of Foxconn and Pegatron in Chennai, India and Samsung has its facility in UP. Dixon Technologies in Noida is also doubling down on mobile exports.
TN’s electronic exports for the period April-October 2023 stands at $.4.8 billion – almost double that of UP, which stood at $2.5 billion. Karnataka came in third at $2.3 billion followed by Maharashtra at $1.7 billion.
On a month-on-month basis, Tamil Nadu saw a rise of 60% in its electronics exports from $500 million in September to $817 million in October. Industry trackers note that the launch of Apple’s new iPhone model in September typically pushes up total mobile phone exports in the month.
The rise in demand for telecom and networking equipment such as those made by Nokia in Sriperumbudur has also helped exports surge. The electronics components segment too has expanded with Delta Electronics setting up shop last year. EMS company Sanmina also commenced operations of its joint venture with Reliance in Sriperumbudur in October 2022. This facility makes telecommunications equipment, medical equipment and other electronics.
Tarun Pathak, research director, Counterpoint, said that while mobile phones, especially Apple’s iPhones, help drive up total exports value, TN has more diversity than its peers in the portfolio of electronic goods exported including PCs, telecom equipment, and other electronics.
